Improvement in harvesting-machines



0. BARR.

Harvester.

Patented Janfyt6, 1849. y

llllllll VIIIIIIII 2 AShets--Sheet 2; A0. BARR.A

-Harf-vester. l No 6,034. y Pafemedlany16,1849.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

OLIVER BAER, or AURORA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTlNG-IVIACHINES.

S-peeilieation forming part of'I-.eticrs PatentNo. 6.034, dated January 16, 1849.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER BARR, of the town of Aurora, county of Kane, and State of illinois, have invented a new and useful machinedesigned for reapingr and bundling wheat and other kinds of grain, of which I do declare the following to be a full and accurate description.

1n order to explain` the construction of the various parts and the combined arrangement and operation of said machine, I refer to the annexed drawings, in which the same letter indicate the same parts throughout.

Figure lis a birds-eye view of the machine; Fig. 2, an inside sectional side elevation of one of the rear short posts, K, showing the chain bands or belts a, with the cam-blocksj attached, as they pass over the angular pulleys z to the short inclined planes or fixed wedges 7c and under the camlevers Z, which effects the dropping and bundling of the grain in the manner hereinafter described 5 Fig. 3, a side elevation view ofthe entire machine; Fig. et, a topview .of the frame-work of the same, showing the cords m attached to the hooks i", which are fixed inthe under sides of theirock-shafts s, that are also shown; Fig. 5, a front elevation ot' the same, including the machinery; Fig. 6, an enlarged sectional top view of the breastbeam A and the iixed sickles tt'astened thereon and the vibrating sickles qarranged upon a portion ofthe reciprocating sickle-bar p Fig. 7, a cut section end View of said breast-beam A and an edge view of the sickles q audt; Fig. 8, a side elevation ofone ot' the inverted hangers or supporters b of the gearing-shaft Z; Fig'. 9, an end elevation of the horizontal or falling platform \V in the position of dropping the grain by means of the parts hereinafter described in detail; Figs. 10 and 1l, enlarged surface and edge views of the chainband a, showing the open square links h and the loop-links@ with two of the cam-blocksj attached.

I will now proceed to describe the parts of said machine in detail in the order of their arrangement and operation.

lhet'ramework, which is formed principally ot' wood, is constructed substantially as follows: the breast or sickle beam A, two outside beams, B and U, and two inside beams, D and E,one short lateral inside beam, F, one upper middle cross-rail, G, and one under mid- "beted into the inner faces of I and K.

die cross-rail, H. At the front end ot' thc.

beams D and E standtwo long posts," I I, supported by a crosscap, J. Directly opposite, on the end of said beams D and E inthe rear, stand two short posts, K K, supported near their tops by two long braces, L L, which exported upon the same, extends an inclined board iooring or platform, S, inclosed at each side by a curb or side-board, T, which is rashirectly over each of these side boards T, and lateral with the same, and secured at its ends in and to the same posts, is placed a light guide-rail,U so as to leave an opening or slot, V, about one inch wide, more or less, between it and thetop of the side-board T, as shown in Fig. 3. In the rear of said inclined platform S, and of about the same area, is extended a horizontal platform divided lengthwise into two iiaps or trap-doors, W W, which are suspended nearly in their centers upon the rock-shafts s, the end journals of which are supported in boxes or bearings in Gr and O, said iiaps being so arranged as' to open downward in the center by means hereinafter described. These tiaps are also provided with side-boards Y Y, which are secured to and elevated upon their outer edges, as shown in Fig. 3 and end view, Fig. 9.

Upon the left-hand side of said machine (viewing vit in front) is extended a horizon tal platform or frame-work formed ot' one end ot' the breastbeam A, one side beam G, the lateral 'side beam E, and short lateral beam F, and crossrail H. Upon this portion of the frameis supported the propelling-gearing of the machine, the main shaft of which is indicated by the letter Z, and is suspended in boxes a a in the stanchions or standards b b, which are shown in the side elevation Fig. S, and are based one upon the outside beam C and the other upon the lateral inside beam E.

' The above description comprises theprinci-l pal parts of the frame-work of said machine; and I will now proceed to describe the propelling and operative machinery of the same.

Upon the main shaft Z, uearits outer end, is fixed the large truck-wheel c, which is the principal supporting carriage-wheel and conductor of power to the whole machinery, the propelling-power being produced by the resistance of the surface of the ground against its periphery when the machineis drawn forward. Upon the same shaft Z is fixed a toothed bevelwheel,d, somewhat less in diameter than c, which gears into the corresponding pinion e, which pinion is keyed upon the inner endofa short horizontal shaft, f, which is supported in two bearings in the standard y, said standard ranging lengthwise with the machine at right angles with A, and being bolted down partly upon each of the beams A and F, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Upon the outside or front end of said pinion-shaftfis fixed a crank, lL, on the crank-pin of which is suspended one end of a horizontal pitman,j, the opposite end of which is pierced by and acts upon the pin k, which projects from the upper end of' a pendulous lever, Z. Said lever is suspended nearly in its center upon the stud m, projected from the standard u, which standard is bolted upon the beam A, as shown in Figs. l and 5. The bottom end of the pendnlous lever Zenters vertically into a mortise, as indicated by dotted line, at o, which is cut into the end of the reciprocating sicklebar p, as shown in Fig. 5, giving the requisite sidewise vibrating motion tothe short sickles g, which are let into recesses, and are riveted or screwed upon the upper surface of said bar p at right angles with the same, projecting horizon tally forward between and close under the long fixed sickles t, and the said bar p is let into a rabbet cutin the front upper corner of the beam A, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7, where it is secured in front by the clamps s, and above by the long fixed sickles t aforesaid, which fixed sickles are spear-pointed thin plates of steel, made with a neck somewhat bacli of their points, and having horizontally-curved edges at their sides, against which the grain is forced or gathered and cut by the vibrating sickles q as they are moved by means before described.

The rear ends of the fixed sickles t are ot' a dovetail shape, and are let their thickness into the upper surface of the beam A, as shown in surface and end views Figs. 6 and 7, where they are firmly screwed down with their front cutting ends projecting forward at right angles with beam A and barp, and ou a line with and between the vibrating sickles q, extending some three inches beyond the points of the same, and both or either of the sets of said sickles may be serrated or sickle-edged. The long or fixed sickles t should be cut upon their upper edges with the teeth-points ranging backward in order to secure and out the grain to advantage.

The next train of machinery in order begins with the large driving-pulley u, whih is fixed upon the main shaft Z before mentioned, Y

near its inner end. From this pulley extends a flat band, fu, which passes around a small whirl or pulley, to, that is fixed on the outer end of the shaft x, which shaft is supported horizontally on journals resting in the bearings y y on the front face of' the short posts K K, Figs. 3 and 5. Upon this shaft or, and near and between its bearings y y, there are two small angular or spur driving-pulleys, z, around which pass two bands or endless chain belts, a a, as seen in Figs. l, 3, and 5. These belts extend forward and pass around two large hoop-shaped reel-heads, b b, ofa horizontal reel, the center shaft of which, c, is formed into journals at its ends, which run in opposite boxes or sockets made onto the outside faces, near their centers of the long posts I 1 at d. Said reel-heads b b are supported by four horizon tal connecting-rails, e, from which centripetally extend four cross-arms, f, at each end, which are tenoned into the center shaft, c, thus completing said reel, which extends horizontally from I to I, and which receives a forward rotary motion from said chain-band a about equal in a given time to that of the truckwheel c, which motion of the horizontal arms of said reel throws the cut grain back upon inclined platform S, which ranges someinches below the sweep of said arms, where it falls with the butt-ends forward, and remains accumulating until removed by the revolving rake g, which is constructed and operated as fol- 1ows.

I will first state that the chain-band a should be made in the manner represented in the enlarged surface and end views Figs. l() and 11, which is the common hat chain-band, made ot' the square open chain-links h and connected alternately by the straps t', the ends of which are looped around the angles of the adjoining square links h, then lapped and double riveted in the center in the usual manner, as shown in Fig. 10. i

The head of the rake g may be made of metal, or. if of wood, about the same proportions as the common hay-rake, and about six feet long, or ofsufcient length to extend from one chain-band to the other', to the two opposite loops of which itis riveted, the rake-head ranging at rightangles across the machine,with its ends g projecting about one inch outside ot' each baud,which ends ofthe rake pass through in its revolutions the gaps a" cut on the inside faces ofthe posts I I and K K. The teeth ofthe rake project outward from the chain-bands a a, and are of sufficient length to sweep the cut grain up from the inclined platform back onto the flaps of the horizontal or falling platform at each revolution of' said bands around the reel b. Here terminates one branch of the second train of operative mechanism in this machine. The second branch of this train commences with the cam-blocksjj. These blocks, which are some five (more or less) in number, and of an oblong form, are riveted or secured centrally to an equal number of strap-loops t' of the band, as seen in Figs. 2, 9, andl 11, the blocks being so much longer than the loops as to meet end to end about the center vof the square links h, and form a solid bridge when the band is in a straightline. Consequently as the band carries them over and past the angular pulleys z, and over upon the inclined plane or lixed wedges 7c, which are fastened upon the inside of the braces L L near the the short posts, K K, and nearly over the angular pulleys z, theprojections of the rake.- head g being' the leaders of the line of'c'amblocksj, they force upthe ends of the cam? levers l, which are kept up by the cam-blocks j until the whole number have passed by the impinging point, during whichtiiiie the'tlaps or trap-doors W W,Which form thehorizontal platform, are held open downward, as seen in Fig. 9, in the position of dropping the grain, which operation is effected suddenly by means of the chain or cord in, the upper end of the same being attached to and passed over the liftinglever it, which is raised vwith the cain-lever l, both levers being firmly iixed upon the same arbor o on opposite sides of the posts K K, through which posts said arbor passes horizontally. From said levers n the cords or chains pass down the outsdes ofKK, against the sides ofthe friction-pulleyspp, and around under the guide-pulleys q q, thence upward, where the ends are secured to the lever-hooks rr, which hooks project downward when the iia ps are in a horizontal position from the rockshal'ts s, in the under sides of which they are iirmly inserted, consequently the upward draft ofthe cord on would force the trapdoors to which the rock-shaft is firmly fixed) to a dowiiward inclination in the same proportion that the hooks are drawn to a horizontal line. The cam-blocks]l having moved past the inclined planes or wedges k as the machine is moved forward, the extra weight of the outside of the trap-doors W W forces them back to their foi-mer horizontal position, ready to receive the succeeding bundle of grain from the rake g, as before described.

'lhe machine is supported and moved upon two wheels-namely, the large truck-wheels, c, (the location of which has been previously described,) and the small wheel,vr, which is suspended on a separate' axle, t, between the beams B and D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The near end of the pole or tongue is firmly fixed by the bolts u u, or otherwise, in the the flanges o v, which are shown in Figs. l and 5.

The machine may be worked by one span of horses in ordinary crops; but in heavy reaping additional team may he required.

Having faithfully described the structure and arrangement ofsaid machine, I will brieliy recapitulate the progressive operation of its working parts in the lineal order of its mechanism.

Suppose the machine being moved forward by the team, with, that portion of the breastb eam A on which the sickles are attached the pinion c, the shaftf, the crank h, and pin t', the pitinanj, and the pendulous lever t to the sickle-bar p, on which the short sickles q are fixed, and to which sickles it conveys a.

rapid horizontal motion backl and forth, and

by and between which and the curved edges of the long sickles t the intervening grain is seized and cut as fast as the machine is moved forward, which grain is thrown back upon the inclined platform S byv the horizontal reel arms or rails e, which revolve in advance of the sickles, and consequently1 part and keep the uncut grain inclined backward over said platform S, froniwhicli it is moved up back onto the falling or bundling platform W W by the rake g at ,every revolution of the chainbands a a. The motion which propels said rake and reel is derived from the main shaft Z, through the pulley u, the band e, the small pulleys fw, the shaft a0, the angular or spur pulleys z, and the chain-belts a a, which last pass around the heads b b of said reel, and to which the ends of said rake are fastened, as before described The motion which drops and bundles the grain, which is the next and last in order, is derived from the chain-bands a a,

through the cam-blocks j, the cam-lever Z, the

arbor o, the lifting-lever n, the cord m around the friction-pulley p, and the guide-pulley q to the lever-hooks r r., which being fixed iii the rock-shafts s and the shafts being riveted to the trap-doors W W, they are opened downward vat every revolution of said cam-blocks j, and the grain dropped on the ground between said trap-doors or flaps in the requisite quantities or bundles', and lying together properly for binding.

1n the construction and action of the above i described machine there areseveral mechanical features which I consider both novel and iin portant: tirst, in the curved cutting-edges of thelong fixed sickles t, which gather and hold the grain while being cut by the triangularl sickles q, which formand arrangement eii'ectu ally shear ofi' the grain b v means of a lateral motion, with the sickle-blades firmly and iinmovable iixed oii their respective supporters, thereby obviating the wearing and expenseof the pivot-joints' and the tendency to torce the grain forward uncut to be passed over by the machine, which are among the objections to the arrangement of sickles acting as shears on pivots heretofore in use; second, in the inclined plane S, by means of which the cut grain is elevated by the rake g to the bundlingplatform W sufliciently above thecut stubble to allow it to be dropped iii a collected bundle in a condition ready for binding, which could notbe done it' said rear platform were placed on a horizontal line with the sickles or breastbeam ot' the front platform, which platform,

in order to secure theabove advantages, I have made inclined, as above specified; third, in making the reel with the' pulley-heads Zi b to secure the chain-bands a a, and the revolvingrake g attached, by means of which, in connect'ion with the guide-rail U, the grain is carried up said inclined back to said horizontal platform, W; fourth, in the arrangement of the wedge 7i', the cam-blooksj, the cam and lifting levers Z and u, and the cord im in connection with the trap-doors W W, by means of which said grain is deposited in bundles ready for binding, as above described.

Believing that the above-mentioned peculiarities are my own original and exclusive in# ventions, and not used or known in any other machine for like purposes, I do hereby7 state my claims accordingly as follows 1. The form of the fixed sickles t with the curved edges, in combination With thetriangular sickles q, attached to the vibrating harp,

and operated substantially as hereinabove 

